Trim attaching device



Jan. 31, 1950 G` J. soUKUP 2,495,870

TRIM ATTACHING DEVICE Filed N0v. 6, 1944 INVENTOR.

GEORGE J. SOUKUP AGENT Patented Jan. 31, 195o TRIM ATTACHING DEVICEGeorge J. Soukup, Burbank, Calif., assignor to Lockheed AircraftCorporation, Burbank, Calif.

Application November 6, 1944, Serial No. 562,201

12 Claims. (Cl. 189-88) This invention relates to means for attachingfabric trim, leather, imitation leather, etc., in structures such asaircraft, automotive vehicles, furniture, buildings, and the like. It isa general object of the invention to provide simple, practical andeffective trim attaching means which facilitates the securing orattaching of fabric, leather and similar materials.

Heretofore it has been the general practice to sew the' sections offabric or other trim material together and then tack the material to thesupporting structure. These sewing and tacking operations are timeconsuming and can only be properly performed by experienced workmen.When it becomes desirable to repair a worn, soiled or torn portion ofthe trim material, it has been necessary to remove the entire fabrictrim. -Be cause the material had been secured by tacks, the fabric isseldom suitable for re-use, and in most instances, must bediscarded,with the result that the entire structure must be retrimmed with newmaterial.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device o1' means forattaching fabric trim, and the like, that permits the rapid installationof the trim material by inexperienced workmen. The device of theinvention is such that no sewing or tasking is required, and the fabricmay be correctly tensioned in both directions and speedily secured inplace under the desired tension without special skill or care.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trim attaching means inwhich the fabric or trim material may be installed either in panels orin a continuous unbroken section, and when occasion arises, may beremoved in panels to facilitate the repair or replacement of worn, tornor soiled portions. The attaching means makes it possbleto install thematerial in panels of suitable selected width and length. and in the`event a portion of the material requires repair or replacement, thatportion may be readily removed and, if necessary, replaced without theneed of completely retrimming the structure as has been the practice inthe past.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trim attaching devicethat is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Each unit of theinvention embodies only two readily constructed inexpensive parts;namely, an attaching strip and a cap strip or moulding.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trim attaching meansof the character referred to in which the attaching strip is formed with2 of retaining the fabric or trim material and of removably securing themoulding strip, which in turn, conceals the lugs and the splices in thematerial and assists in preventing displacement of the material.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily understoodfrom the following detailed description of a typical preferred form ofthe invention wherein reference will be made to the accompanying drawingin which:

which the strip may be equipped with flanges;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary .perspective view lllustrating the manner inwhich several attaching means of the invention may be employed to securetrim material to a structure, and showing one moulding strip partiallyremoved; and,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a splice in thematerial at the attaching means.

The attaching means of the invention has many applications and iscapable of substantial modification to adapt it for given uses, and forthe mounting or attaching of specific materials. In the drawingf'I haveillustrated a form of the invention suitable for attaching fabric, orthe like, 'te the interiors of buildings, land vehicles, aircraftcabins, etc. It is to be understood that the invention is not to beconstrued as limited to this' particular form, but is to be consideredas including any features or modications that may fall within the scopeof the claims.

simple tabs or lugs which serve the dual function 55 The attachingdevice or means of the invention comprises, generally, attaching stripl0 and a cap strip or moulding Il. The attaching strip I0 is an elongatemember that is preferably, though not necessarily, constructed of sheetmetal of suitable gauge. Where weight is a factor, the strip I0 may beformed of aluminum of aluminum alloy sheet stock. The attaching strip l0is preferably flexible so that it may be made to conform to curved orcontoured supporting structures. lThus in Figure 5 of the drawing, thespaced attaching strip l0 is secured to the members I2 of a curved orcontoured supporting structure. In practice the strip Il may besufiiciently flexible to be curved and flexed in various directions toconform to its support. The attaching strip I may be of uniform widthand is readily cut to any required length. It is a feature that thestrip It may be readily secured to the supporting structure by nails,screws I3, or the like. The attaching elements or screws I3 may beengaged in the openings I8, as in Figure 2. ,Other openings 30. spacedbetween the openings I6 may be provided to receive the screws or otherattaching means. The strip I0 presents a smooth rear surface for bearingon the support members I2 and a plain regular surface for receiving thetrim material M.

In most installations, it will be desirable to employ two or more spacedattaching means, and the attaching means may extend along the severalborders of the trim material M as well as across the space to be coveredby the material. Figure illustrates the manner in which a plurality ofspaced parallel attaching means of the invention are used in securingthe trim material M across an area. of substantial extent. In such r asituation the attaching strips I0 are nailed or otherwise secured to thesupporting structure I2 along spaced parallel lines. As indicated by thebroken lines of Figure 4 of the drawing, the attaching strip I0 may beconstructed with a longitudinal iiange I4 extending along one of itsedges to facilitate the installation of the strip in a corner portion ofthe supporting structure. The flange I4 may extend either from theforward face or the rear face of the strip, and may be disposed at anyrequired angle. The left hand portion of Figure 5 illustrates the mannerin which an attaching strip Ill provided with an edge flange I4 may beinstalled in a corner of the structure.

The attaching strip I0 is provided with a multiplicity of tabs or lugsI5- of special construction for securing the material M and forremovably retaining the moulding strip Il. In accordance with theinvention, the lugs I5 are integral with the strip I0. The strip I0 maybe pierced and stamped to have its integral projecting lugs I5. As bestillustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, spaced openings I6 are formed inthe strip I0 and the metal within the openings I6 is bent outwardly toform the lugs I5. The openings I 6 are generally T-shaped and the stripI 0 is preferably provided with relatively small openings I1 at the endsof the arms of the openings IB to prevent the material of the strip fromcracking during the stamping operation. 'Ihe lugs I5 preferably projectat right angles to the forward surface of the strip I0 and arepreferably uniformly spaced throughout the length of the strip. Theseveral lugs I5 all project from the same side of the strip I0, leavingthe opposite side of the strip plain for ready attachment to thesupporting structure.

The several lugs I5 are preferably all of the same configuration andproportions, and are shaped to dependably retain both the material M andthe moulding strip .I I. In accordance with the invention the lugs I5are substantially T- shaped having broadened outer ends or headspresenting inwardly or downwardly facing shoulders 26 at the oppositeedges of the lugs. The outer edges of the Tshaped lugs I5 may be roundedto some extent, and while the shouders 26 are qute abrupt theynevertheless are roinded. The roots of the T-shaped lugs I5 curve so asto gradually merge into the strip III adjacent the openings I1. 'nie rowof lugs Il is preferably spaced between the longitudinal edges of thestrip Il to leave ample material at opposite sides of the openings If.

The material M is handled and arranged so as to have the desiredtautness in both directions and so as to conform to the supportingstructure and the attaching strips I0. When a. portion of the material Mhas been properly positioned and tensioned. it is engaged on the lugs I5of an attaching strip Ill, for example, on a portion o! the strip at oneend or corner of the space to be covered. In the case of some materials.it may be possible to merely press or force the material against thelugs I5 to cause the lugs to cut their own openings in the material. Inmost instances a suitable cutting instrument is employed to cut openingsor slits 21 at proper points in the material M to receive the lugs I5.The openings or slits 21 thus formed need be only of sumcient length toreceive the lugs when the material is forcibly pressed over the lugs andit is undesirable to make the slits of excessive length. When thematerial M has been engaged over the lugs I5. it rests on or engagesthe= face of the attaching strip I'II and the supporting structure. Thetensioned fabric or material M, when engaged on the lugs I5, has littleor no tendency to become disengaged. It will be apparent how thematerial M may be engaged on the multiplicities of lugs I5 on theseveral spaced strips I0 to be secured to the supporting structure.

The strips I0 may be located or the sections of the material M may bedimensioned so as to have edge portions of the material occur at thestrips I0. In other words, the material M may be cut in sections orpanels and the panels may be anchored along their several edges and atother points, by the lugs I5 of the strips IB. This will often effect asubstantial savings in the cutting of the material. Splices will occurwhere the adjoining edge portions of the two sections or panels of thematerial are both engaged on the lugs I5 of a single strip I0. Thus inFigure 6 the edge por- I tions of two sections of the material M areengaged on the lugs I5 of a strip I0 and the edge parts of the sectionsare in overlapping relation at the strip.

The configuration of the T lugs I5 and the en gagement of the mouldingstrips II on the lugs assure dependable uniform retention of thematerial. In some installations, however, additional means may beemployed to retain the material. In the drawings I have shown flexibleelements Il in the form of wires, strings or cords extending across theface of the material M and engaged under the shoulders 26 of theattaching lugs I5. Each flexible element I 8 is laced so as to pass fromthe right edge of one lug to the left edge of the second lug, thence tothe right edge of the third lug, and so on, and the two cords orelements are engaged with the opposite edges of given lugs I5 so as tocross one another between the pairs of adjacent lugs. This is clearlyillustrated in Figure 2. The crossed' tensioned cords I9 assist inholding the material M in full engagement with the attaching strips I0and supporting structure. The use of the cords or elements I9 isoptional and will depend upon the character of the installation andmaterial M. In situations where the appearance of the exposed lugs I5 isnot objectionable the cords IS may be employed to assure continuedretention of the material on the lugs in the event the moulding strip IIis omitted.

The moulding strips I I serve to assist in retaining the material M onthe lugs I5, conceal the lugs I5 and the edges of the material and formornamental trim strips of the nal installation.

The moulding strips II are preferably formed of a flexible material andmay be moulded or extruded lengths of plastic, aluminum alloy or othermetal. In other cases the strips II may be constructed of sheet metal.The strips are elongate continuous parts of uniform cross sectionthroughout their lengths. They are channel-like members each having anouter or main wall arching or curving outwardly from longitudinal edgeportions 2|. The edge portions 2| may be substantially parallel with oneanother and present edge surfaces 22 for engaging againstthe material M.The main wall 2B is sulciently thin to be capable of substantial iiexureso that'the moulding may conform to various contours. The exterior ofthe main wall 20 may be ornamented and finished to have the selectedappearance. The width of the strips I is such that the longitudinal edgeportions 2| lie in planes coincident with or slightly inward of thelongitudinal edges of the attaching strips I0. Thus the channel shapedmoulding strips are sufficiently wide to completely cover the lappededges of the material M.

The moulding strips I are provided with intermediate longitudinalchannels 23 defined by longitudinally extending internal flanges ortongues 24. Where the mouldings are extrusions of plastic material ormetal, the tongues 24 are integral with the mouldings. In cases wherethe moulding strips are formed of sheet stock. a channel member may besecured to the interior of each strip by spot welding, or the like, toprovide the channel 23 and tongues 24. The tongues 24 preferably curveinwardly and toward one another. The channel 23 is shaped andproportioned to receive and substantially conform to the heads of the Tlugs I5. The mouths or entrances of the channels 23 are considerablynarrower than the heads of the T lugs. The parts are related andproportioned so that upon the application of suitable pressure, theheads of the T lugs I5 may be snapped into the channels 23 and withdrawnin a like manner. The main walls 20 and the tongues 24 both flexoutwardly and laterally when the moulding strips are snapped onto anddisengaged from the lugs I5. When a moulding strip II is in place asillustrated in Figure 1, the shoulders 26 cooperate with the tongues 24to hold the edge surfaces 22 against the material M and to preventmovement or vibration of the moulding,r strip relative to the lugs I5.As shown in Figure 1, the material M is clamped or coniined between theedge surfaces 22 and the face of the attaching strip Ill.

In applying the moulding I I, subsequent to the installation of thematerial M as above described, the moulding strip is engaged on the lugsI5 and is then pressed inwardly so that the lugs snap into the channel23. In practice, it may be preferred to start at one end of the strip IIAand apply pressure at that point to initially latch a few of the lugsinthe channel 23. By progressing along the length of the strip whileapplying the required pressure, the entire moulding strip II may bereadily secured in place. In a likev manner, when removing a mouldingstrip II it may be grasped at one end and pulled free from the adjacentlugs I5. The right hand portion of Figure 5 illustrates the manner inwhich a moulding strip II may be readily disengaged from the capable ofrepeated re-use and may be re-applied following replacement of worn orsoiled material M.'

Having described only a typical form of the" invention, I do not wish tobe limited to the speciflc details herein set forth, but wish to reserveto myself any variations or modifications that may appear to thoseskilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: I

1. Means for attaching fabrieor similar material to a support comprisingan elongate attaching strip to be secured to the support where it iscovered by the material, longitudinally spaced lugs projecting from theattaching strip and received in openings in the material to hold thematerial on the support, and a mould strip having snap engagement on thelugs and holding the material on the lugs.

2. Means for attaching material to a support comprising an .elongateattaching strip to be secured to the support where it is covered by thematerial, longitudinally spaced outwardly projecting lugs on theattaching strip engaged through openings in the material to hold thematerial on the support, and a mould strip having a channel receivingthe lugs so as to retain the` mold strip and material on the lugs.

3. Means for attaching material to a support comprising elongateattaching strip to be secured to the support, longitudinally spacedrigid outwardly'projecting lugs on the attaching strip engaged throughopenings in the material to hold the material on the support, the outerends of the lugs having enlargements, and a mould strip engaged over thelugs to hold the material on the lugs and having a flexible channel insnap engagement with the enlargements of the lugs to retain the moldstrip and material on the lugs.

4. Means for attaching material to a support comprising a metallic sheetstrip having longitudinally spaced integral substantially rigid lugsextending outwardly from it and `engaged in openings in the material,and a mould strip having spaced tongues in removable snap engagementwith the lugs to retain the mold strip and material thereon.

5. Means for attaching material to a support comprising a metallic sheetstrip having longitudinally spaced integral substantially rigid lugsextending outwardly from it and adapted to be engaged in openings in thematerial to hold the material against the support, the lugs being of Tshape to have heads, and a mould strip applied to the lugs to retain thematerial on the lugs, the mould strip including flexible lips defining achannel in snap engagement with the heads of the lugs.

6. Means for attaching material to a support comprising an attachingstrip to be secured to the support, longitudinally spaced outwardlyprojecting rigid lugs on the attaching strip engaged through openings inthe material, the lugs being of T shape to have heads, a generallychannel shaped mould strip engaged over the lugs, and spacedlongitudinally extending iiexible tongues on the inner side of the mouldstrip defining a channel having removable snap engagement with 15outwardly from it and engaged in openings in the material, the lugsbeing of T formation to have heads on their ends, a flexible mouldstrip" of channel shaped cross section mounted on the projecting lugs,and spaced opposing longitudinally extending flexible tongues on theinterior of the mould strip defining a channel having snap engagementwith the heads of the lugs to retain the mould strip in the positionwhere its longitudinal edges engage the material to hold it against thefirst named strip.

8. In a trim structure, an elongate attaching strip, rigid lugsprojecting outwardly from the attaching strip at points spacedlongitudinally thereof, the lugs having broad surfaces facing axially ofthe attaching strip and having their edges facing toward the side edgesof the attaching strip, shoulders on said edges of the lugs spacedinwardly from the outer ends of the lugs and facing toward the attachingstrip, a mould strip adapted to overlie the attaching strip, flangesextending along the longitudinal edges of the mould strip and projectingtoward the attaching strip, and a pair of flexible resilient lon#gitudinally extending tongues on the inner side of the mould stripspaced one from the other to provide a channel having a restrictedentrance for receiving the lugs of the attaching strip, the tonguescurving inwardly and toward one another so that they may be sprung awayfrom one another and away from their normal positions and then snapunder said shoulders when forced inwardly against the lugs, said tonguesacting against said shoulders after said lugs have entered said channel,and as the tongues tend to return to their normal positions, to urgesaid flanges in the direction of said attaching strip.

9. In a trim structure, an elongate attaching strip, longitudinallyspaced lugs projecting outwardly from the face of the attaching strip,the lugs having broad surfaces facing axially of the attaching strip andhaving their edges facing laterally toward the longitudinal edges of theattaching strip, shoulders on said edges of the lugs facing toward saidface of the attaching strip, a mould strip for overlying the attachingstrip, flanges extending along the longitudinal edges of the mould stripand projecting toward the attaching strip, and a pair of flexiblelongitudinally extending tongues on the inner side of the mould stripspaced from said flanges and spaced from one another to provide achannel having a restricted entrance for receiving said lugs, thetongues curving toward the attaching strip and toward one another andadapted to be sprung apart and away from their normal positions and thento snap under said shoulders upon being forced over the lugs, saidtongues acting against said shoulders after said lugs have entered saidchannel, and as the tongues tend toV return to their normal positions,to urge said flanges in the direction of said attaching strip.

10. In a trim structure, an elongate attaching strip, longitudinallyspaced lugsI projecting outwardly from the face of the attaching strip,the lugs having broad surfaces facing axially of the attaching strip andhaving their edges facing laterally toward the longitudinal edges of theattaching strip, shoulders on said edges of the lugs 8 facing towardsaid face of the attaching strip, the outer ends of the lugs beingrounded, a mould strip for overlying the attaching strip, flangesextending the longitudinal edges of the mould strip and projectingtoward the attaching strip, and a pair of longitudinally extendingtongues on the inner side of the mould strip spaced from said flangesand spaced from one another to provide a channel having a restrictedentrance for receiving said lugs, the tongues being curved inwardly andtoward one another, the tongues and the portions of the mould stripadjacent thereto being flexible so that the tongues may be sprung awayfrom one another and away from their normal positions to thereafter snapunder said shoulders upon being forced against the rounded ends of thelugs, said tongues acting against said shoulders after said lugs haveentered said channel, and as the tongues tend to return to their normalpositions, to urge said flanges in the direction of said attachingstrip.

11.- In a trim structure, an elongate sheet metal attaching strip, and aplurality of longitudinally spaced lugs integral with the strip andprojectlng outwardly from a face of the strip, the lugs having broadside surfaces facingv axially of the strip and having their edges facinglaterally .toward the longitudinal edges of the strip, said lugs beinggenerally T shaped to each have a leg extending outwardly from the stripand a broadened head on the leg, the edges of said heads providingabrupt shoulders which face inwardly toward the strip.

12. In a trim structure, an elongate attaching strip having a row oflongitudinally spaced openings spaced substantially midway between thelongitudinal edges of the strip, and a lug joining the strip at a marginof each of said openings and projecting outwardly from the rface of thestrip, the lugs having broad side surfaces facing axially of the stripand having their edges facing laterally toward the longitudinal edges ofthe strip, the lugs being alike and each including a leg extendingoutwardly from the strip and a broadened head on the outer end of thehead having inner edges facing inwardly toward the strip and havingrounded outer edges.

GEORGE J. SOUKUP.

` REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file ofthis patent: e

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,804,831 Hardesty May l2, 19311,970,785 Walters Aug. 21, 1934 1,972,412 Van Dresser Sept. 4, 19341,998,366 Geyer Apr. 16, 1935 2,000,466 Howard May 7, 1935 2,019,111Ball Oct. 29, 1935 2,192,309 Hall Mar. 5, 1940 2,196,417 Kelsen Apr. 9,1940 2,208,541 .Churchill July 16, 1940 2,208,542 Doppleb July 16, 19402,275,127 Brown Mar. 3. 1942 2,308,134 Westrope Jan. 12, 1943

